Drawings of Blood Cells Reveal People's Perception of Their Blood Disorder: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are rare but chronic blood disorders. Recent literature showed impaired quality of life (QOL) in people with these blood disorders. Assessing one of the determinants of QOL (i.e. illness perceptions) therefore, is an important next research area.

Objective

We aimed to explore illness perceptions of people with a blood disorder with drawings in addition to the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ). Drawings are a novel method to assess illness perceptions and the free-range answers drawings offer can add additional insight into how people perceive their illness.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study including 17 participants with a blood disorder. Participants' illness perceptions were assessed by the

SUBMITTER: Ramondt S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4849734 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature